In order to avoid that emptiness of un-fulfillment, you must find a profession which you truly enjoy. Your job should not be simply a good way to make money. It should be an enjoyable outlet for your productive energies, and based upon your personal interests. Your career should be an exercise for your mind, and not one in which you mindlessly carry out the orders given to you by someone else. You must be able to take pride in your accomplishments within the profession you chose. It would be a nice coincidence if the job you love pays good money, but the money should not be your main consideration. The students graduating today can take a lesson from their teachers, many of whom chose their profession not for the money they would make but for the joy of teaching itself. Wealth brings comfort, but not necessarily happiness. A productive career you enjoy can help bring happiness.
In our culture we are bombarded with statements to the effect that it is a man's or woman's duty to serve others. From pre-school on up we are taught that selfishness is evil and that self-sacrifice is good. I am sure that at this time of year countless valedictorian speeches are being given throughout the country advising graduates to dedicate their lives to helping others. However, this doctrine of self-sacrifice is wrong. In order to survive and thrive a man must be concerned with his own interests. To ask a person to sacrifice himself is to ask him to act as his own destroyer. According to the ethics of self-sacrifice, the degree to which he destroys himself is the degree of his moral worth. The ethics of self-sacrifice forces a man to choose between being worthy to live and being able to live. This is anti-life, and therefore evil.
A person has the moral right to exist for his own sake. The achievement of a man's own happiness is his highest moral goal. This is not meant to imply that it is proper to violate the rights of others in order to succeed; instead, you should live independently, neither sacrificing yourself to others no others to yourself.
What does this mean for those graduating today? It means that we should approach our lives with eagerness and anticipation, striving toward the achievement of our most deeply felt values. We should be self-assured knowing that our lives are our own to live, and not feel guilty at wanting happiness and success. The happiness will at least partly come from pursuing a productive career.
Religion tells us that we should find exaltation and glory in the worship of God. However, perhaps that is misguided. Instead, we should find exaltation in the worship of our own potential as human beings. We should have reverence for our own character and for our own pursuit of a productive career.
About four years ago I began reading the works of the novelist and philosopher Ayn Rand. Her writings have led me toward a philosophy of life which has enabled me to strive with confidence toward my chosen career. For that I am truly grateful to her.
So long, class of '88, and may your future be bright.
Enlightenment is selfish.
Enlighten yourself.